Electrically ignited lighter



April 12, 1966 H, R'EMY 3,246,207

ELECTRICALLY IGNITED LIGHTER Filed Oct. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7 g m: i E m4 /03 i I /Z l I //8 I i I I L 1 2 rmz /30 i ma 26a INVENTOR HERMAN/V REM) BY Hm M ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 14 Claims (01. 317-81) The present invention relates to lighters for lighting cigarettes, cigars and pipes and, more particularly, to lighters fueled with liquefied gas and ignited by an electric spark.

There are well known and generally available in the market gas-fueled lighters of the pyrophoric type in which the spark for lighting the lighter is mechanically produced by the friction between a rotary sparking wheel and a flint. In lighters of this type there is an unavoidable accumulation of particles at the burner nozzle or the wick and at the sparking wheel partly due to the presence of fibers in a pocket in which the lighter is carried but mainly due to the wear of the sparking wheel and the flint. Furthermore, the flint and the sparking wheel wear out fairly rapidly and they must be replaced from time to time as it is well known to any user of such alighter.

It has been attempted for a number of years to develop a lighter which is ignited by an electric spark. However, all electrically ignited lighters as heretofore available are not satisfactory in practice. Lighters of this type as now known employ batteries of difierent kinds, or even a connection to a power main as the source of current. If batteries are employed the generally low voltage supplied by such a source of current must be stepped up to a comparatively high ignition voltage. It is also known to produce ignition sparks by connecting a high voltage coil to a battery. Both the coil and the battery are rather bulky and must be placed in a correspondingly large container upon which are mounted an electrode and a fuel container which constitutes the second electrode to define a sparking gap. It is also known to produce the ignition spark by means of a manually operable magneto generator. In all lighters of this kind the required electrical components require so much space that the size of the electrical components is totally out of proportion to the space required by the fuel container of the lighter whereby the lighter becomes clumsy and difficult to handle. Furthermore, the required electrical components are too expensive to be practical.

tively coupled with a coil.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electrically ignited lighter in which the magnetic field of a permanent magnet is abruptly changed by displacement of an armature of the magnet and such rapid change in the magnetic field is utilized to generate a high voltage in a coil inductively coupled with the magnetic field of the magnet. The high 3,246,207 Patented Apr. 12, 1966 induction voltage is then caused to discharge across a sparking gap.

Still another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electrically ignited lighter in which all the components required to generate the ignition spark can be accommodated in a casing in which the fuel container of the lighter is also disposed, without substantially increasing the size of such common casing. As it is evident, such lighter according to the invention combines the advantage of small and handy size of a conventional pyrophoric type lighter with the specific advantages of an electrically ignited lighter, namely the elimination of all components subject to rather frequent replacement, such as the flint, the sparking wheel or the Wick.

It is also a specific object of the invention to provide a novel and improved electrically ignited lighter in which the supply of fuel to the burner of the lighter and the generation of the ignition spark are so correlated that suflicient fuel is available when the spark is produced.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational section of a lighter according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational section similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification of the lighter.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of still another modification, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a further modification of a structural detail of the lighter.

Referring first to FIG. 1 in detail, the lighter as exemplified in this figure comprises a metal casing 1. Part of the casing constitutes a tank 3 for a supply of fuel 2. The fuel is preferably a liquefied gas such as butane which is under pressure within the tank. However, fuels other than liquefied gas may also be used such as conventional lighter fluid. The fuel tank instead of being integral with casing 1 or constituting a part thereof may also be a separate container or tank detachably inserted-in the casing.

In the exemplified embodiment the tank is filled through a filling opening closed by a screw. The opening may also be closed by a valve 4 and filling may then be effected by means of an ampule as customarily used for gas-fueled lighters. The valve may be constructed as is well known for the purpose in the art.

The tank portion of the casing mounts a burner valve 6 and a nozzle 7. The nozzle may be regulated by means of a regulating device 5. The components 5, 6 and 7 should be visualized as being conventional and do not constitute part of the invention as such. It is only essential that the nozzle be in electrically conductive contact with casing 1 for a purpose which will become apparent from the subsequent description.

Casing 1 accommodates, preferably alongside of tank 3, a permanent magnet 11. The magnet which may be U-shaped is made of a suitable, highly magnetizable metal or metal alloy such as Alnico. An armature 10 is linked to one pole of the magnet at llla and is movable between the illustrated position in which the armature closes a magnetic flux path through the metal of the magnet and the armature and a position in which an air gap is formed between the armature and the respective pole of the magnet. As it is evident, the magnetic field of the magnet will be drastically weakened in the latter position of the magnet in comparison with the strength of the field when the armature occupies the illustrated position.

An induction coil 9 is wound about the magnet. One end 16 of the coil is electrically connected to the metal of casing 1 and the other end 17 is connected to a metal portion shown as an ignition electrode 13 electrically insulated from casing 1 by an insulation bushing 18.

Fuel gas is supplied from tank 3 to nozzle '7 through tubes or pipes 14 and 15. The flow of fuel through these tubes is controlled by a valve 8 of conventional design. The valve in turn is controlled by the position of a rod or bar 20 which is lengthwise displaceable in reference to valve 8 and is urged by a spring 19 into a position in which the valve is closed. Displacement of bar 20 again-st the action of spring 19 causes opening of valve 8 thereby permitting the flow of fuel to nozzle 7. The position of bar 20 and with it of valve 8 are controlled by an actuating means 12 operable from .the outside of the casing. This actuating means is shown as comprising a button 12 terminating in a plate or disk 21 disposed opposite to the free end of bar 20. Button 12 may be spring-actuated to return it from a depressed or active position into the illustrated rest or inactive position. Button 12 and, more specifically, plate 21, are also used to control the position of armature 10 which for the purpose is provided with a bracket 10b extending toward plate 21.

The operation of the lighter as hereinbefore described is as follows:

To effect ignition of the lighter, button v12 is pressed inwardly. As a result plate 21 will move bar into its position-opening valve 8 and it will also force armature 10 into the aforedescribed position in which an air gap is formed between the metal of the armature and the metal of the respective pole of magnet 11. The resulting collapse or at least drastic weakening of the magnetic field induces a sufiiciently high induction voltage in coil 9 which will cause a spark across the sparking gap formed between nozzle 7 and electrode 13 in the inductive circuit including coil 9 and casing 1. The spark serves as an ignition sparkfor the fuel gas escaping from nozzle 7. As soon as button 12 is released spring 19 will return bar 20 into its valve-closing position and magnet 11 will return armature 10 into the illustrated position by magnetic attraction.

In order to assure that sufficient gas is available at .nozzle 7 at the moment the ignition spark is generated,

the tip of bar 20 is placed closer to plate 21 than the tip of armature bracket 10b, as it is clearly indicated in FIG. 1. As a result valve 8 will be opened slightly prior to the sparking discharge at the spark gap thus assuring an adequate supply of gas to be ignited by the spark. Other suitable means to obtain such staggered opening of the fuel valve and discharge across the sparking gap may of course also be provided. Furthermore, bar 20 may be of a length such that spring 19 acting against a collar 20a on bar 20 will return button 12 into the illustrated inactive position thus making unnecessary a return spring for button 12.

The modification of the lighter exemplified in FIG. 2 comprises a base plate 101 made of metallic or nonmetallic material and sup-porting a gas tank 102 which may be integral with the base plate or in the form of a separate container. Tank 102 is connected by a pipe or tube 103 with a fuel control valve 104 which, in turn, supports a burner nozzle 105. Fuel control valve 104, which may be a diaphragm-operated valve or of any other suitable conventional design, is controlled by a lengthwise displaceable pin 106 protruding from the valve housing. 1

The high voltage required for igniting gas escaping from nozzle is generated by a magneto assembly which comprises a permanent magnet 107 to which are secured magnetic yokes 108a and 1081). The yokes which constitute extensions of the magnet poles coact with a lengthwise displaceable armature 109 which is attracted against the yokes. The armature is surrounded by a coil assembly 111 within which the anchor is displaceable. The coil assembly comprises a low voltage coil 112 consisting of a few turns of heavy wire and a high voltage coil 113 consisting of many turns of thin Wire.

Armature 109 mounts a strap or link of nonmagnetic material. Link 110 is linked to a two-arm lever 114 which supports an actuating member shown as a button 115. A tension spring 116 pulls lever 114 which has a fulcrum at 114a, against a stationarily mounted stop 117.

A two-arm lever 118 pivotal about a fulcrum 118a is engageable with one arm by lever 114 and coacts with its other arm with valve control pin 106. As it is evident, depression of button will cause a clockwise turning of lever 118 thereby lifting pin 106 into its valveopening position. The ratios of transmission are such that opening of valve 104 is efiected by a slight turning of lever 118, or in other words, nearly immediately upon the beginning of a depression of button 115. To effect a smooth operation of the lever system, at least part of lever 118 is preferably elastic in the form of a leaf spring as illustrated.

Lever 118 when turned by depression of button 115 is held in its turned or operative position by engagement with a spring-loaded latch 119. As it is evident, valve 104 is held openas long as lever 118 is retained by latch 119 so that there is a steady flow of gas from nozzle 105.

Link 110 cooperates at its end 120 with a contact spring 121 which constitutes the movable contact of a normally closed switch 122. This switch is in a circuit connecting the terminals'of low voltage coil 112. Switch 122 is opened when armature 109 has moved downwardly through a predetermined distance by depression of button 115. Open-ing of switch 122 and the displacement of armature 109 in reference to magnetic yokes 108a and 1081) induce a high inductive voltage in coil 113. This voltage is discharged across a sparking gap between two electrodes 124 and the resulting spark serves to ignite the gas escaping from nozzle 105 as previously described. To prevent sparking at switch 122 when the same is opened a spark-quenching capacitor 123 is preferably connected in shunt with the contacts of the switch. 7

When button 115 is released the button and also the armature 109 are returned into the starting position by the magnetic pull of magnet 107 and the pull of tension spring 116. However, the flame at nozzle 105 remains burning as long as pin 106 is held in the valve opening position by latched lever 118. Such continued burning is particularly convenient for table lighters which are frequently passed around to be used by several persons.

The lighter flame is extinguished by depressing a preferably spring-loaded button 125 which when depressed forces latch 119 out of engagement with lever 118 thereby permitting return of pin 106 into its valve-closing position.

FIG. 3 shows a structural arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 2 which is also particularly suitable for use as a table lighter. The structure of FIG. 3 is different from that of FIG. 2 in that it is not necessary to operate manually a button such as 125 to extinguish the lighter. Accord-ing to FIG. 3a release for latch 119 is provided which becomes automatically effective when the lighter is put down on a table, or other supporting surface. This release is shown as an actuating bar 126 which terminates in a disk or plate shaped portion 126a protruding from the base plate 101 of the lighter. Bar 126 is retained in its protruding position by a spring 130 and is forced into a position substantially flush with base plate 101, which is recessed at 101a for the purpose, and thus in engagement with latch 119 to force the same into its position-releasing lever 118 as described in connection with FIG. 2.

Due to the comparatively high force of attraction with which armature 109 is pulled against yoke 108a and due to the cumulatively acting pull of tension spring 116 a minimum force needs to be exerted upon button 115 to actuate the magnetic assembly of the lighter. However, as it is evident from the description and an analysis of the illustrated structures, once the attractive force retaining the armature against magnetic yoke 108a and the force of spring 116 are overcome, movement of the armature and with it the generation of the ignition spark will occur abruptly. Hence it is necessary that gas already escapes from nozzle 105 when the spark arcs across electrodes 124. To effect release of gas prior to the initiation of the ignition spark, the respective arm of lever 118 may be in direct contact with lever 114 so that the downward movement of lever 114 at the beginning of the depression of button 115 will already open valve 104.

According to FIG. 4 the pre-opening of the fuel valve is obtained by providing link 127 to which button 115 and lever 114 are secured wit-h a lengthwise elongated slot 128. A nose 115a on button 115 then acts directly upon lever 118 as soon as button 115 is depressed. The coupling between button 115 and link 127 and thus with the armature is effected by means of a pin 129 protruding from button 115 and engaging slot 128. As it is evident, displacement of lever 114 and with it of armature 109 will not be effected until button 115 is depressed by a distance corresponding to the length of slot 128. Accordingly, the time lag between the release of gas and the generation of the ignition spark can be conveniently adjusted by selecting the length of slot 128 accordingly.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighter fueled with liquefied gas, said lighter comprising, in combination, a container for a supply of liquefied gas, normally closed valve means communicating with said container for controlling the outflow of gas therefrom, said valve means including a burner nozzle, control means for controlling the opening of said valve means to supply gas to the nozzle thereof, an inductive circuit means including a sparking gap, said gap being disposed adjacent to said nozzle for igniting gas flowing out of the nozzle, magnetic means for generating a magnetic field inductively coupled with said circuit means, said magnetic means including a permanent magnet and an armature movable between a first position forming a substantially closed path for the magnetic flux path through the magnet and the armature and a second position spaced apart from at least one of the poles of the magnet in which latter position the magnetic field is weakened, means for moving the armature into said spaced apart position, weakening of the magnetic field generating an inductive voltage in said circuit means causing a spark discharge across said sparking gap, and a common operating means for actuating said means for moving the armature into the spaced apart position and said valve control means for opening the valve means.

2. A lighter according to claim 1 wherein said common operating means include delay means efiecting actuation of the valve control means prior to the actuation of the means for changing the magnetic field.

3. A lighter according to claim 1 wherein said common operating means comprises a pressure member displaceable from an inactive position int-o pressure coaction with said armature for moving the same away from the poles of the magnet and with said valve control means for moving the same into the valve-opening position, said valve control means being disposed spatially closer to said pressure member in the inactive position thereof than the means for moving the armature.

4. A lighter according to claim 3 wherein said valve control means comprises a lengthwise displaceable bar movable from the valve-closing position into a valveopening position, and return spring means coacting with said bar to return the same into the valve-closing position.

5. A lighter according to claim 1 and comprising a releasable latch means for retaining said valve control means in the valve-opening position, and a release means for coacting with said latch means to release the same.

6. A lighter according to claim 5 wherein said latch means comprises a movable latch member and said valve control means comprise an arm movable into latching engagement with said latch member upon actuation of the valve control means, and wherein said release means comprises an actuating member coacting with said latch member to move the same out of engagement with said arm upon operation of said member to free the valve control means for return into the valve-closing position.

7. A lighter according to claim 6 wherein said actuating member has a portion externally protruding from the lighter whereby upon placement of the side of the lighter from which said portion protrudes upon a base, the weight of the lighter causes operation of the actuating member.

8. A lighter according to claim 7 wherein said common operating means comprises a linkage coupled with said arm and said armature, said linkage including a link causing delayed movement of the armature into its second position and a substantially immediate movement of said arm into its valve opening position upon actuation of the common actuating means.

9. A lighter according to claim 8 wherein said link is lengthwise displaceable and includes a lengthwise elongated slot, said link being coupled with said arm for immediate actuation thereof by displacement of the link, and wherein the coupling between said link and the armature comprises an element engaged with said slot whereby the armature is moved into its second position upon completion of a movement of the common operating means through a distance determined by the length of said slot.

10. A lighter according to claim 9 wherein said armature comprises a bracket extending toward said pressure member for engagement therewith.

11. A lighter according to claim 10 wherein said arm is at least partly elastic.

12. A lighter according to claim 1 wherein said induction circuit means comprise a low voltage coil and a high voltage coil coaxially disposed about said magnet, and normally closed switch means controlled by said armature so as to be opened by movement of the armature into the second position, opening of the switch means inducing a high inductance voltage in the high voltage coil causing a spark discharge across said sparking gap.

13. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle is a metallic nozzle and a metal portion is mounted adjacent to the nozzle, said nozzle and said metal portion defining said sparking gap.

14. A lighter according to claim 13 wherein said lighter comprises a metal casing, said nozzle being electrically connected to said metal casing, and said metal portion 7 8 comprisingran electrode electrically insulated from said 2,493,662 1/1950 Fitzpatrick ..317- 88 X casing, and wherein vsaid inductive circuit means com- 2,536,468 951 Russell 317- 92 prises a coil disposed in inductivecoupling With said magnet-ic means, one enduofithe coil being connected to said FOREIGN PATENTS metal casing and the other .to said electrode. 5 566,476 11/.1923 France.

965,121 6/ 1957 Germany. .References'Cited byvthevExaminer 1,103,114 5/ 1955 France. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,197,043 6/ 1959 France. 2,070,121 2/ 1937 Gibson 317-81 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

V. Y. MAYEWSKY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIGHTER FUELED WITH LIQUEFIED GAS, SAID LIGHTER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER FOR A SUPPLY OF LIQUEFIED GAS, NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CONTANER FOR CONTROLLING THE OUTFLOW OF GAS THEREFROM, SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A BURNER NOZZLE, CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPENING OF SAID VALVE MEANS TO SUPPLY GAS TO THE NOZZLE THEREOFM AN INDUCTIVE CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING A SPARKING GAP, SAID GAP BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID NOZZLE FOR IGNITING GAS FLOWING OUT OF THE NOZZLE, MAGNETIC MEANS FOR GENERATING A MAGNETIC FIELD INDUCTIVELY COUPLED WITH SAID CIRCUIT MEANS, SAID MAGNETIC MEANS INCLUDING A PERMANENT MAGNET AND AN ARMATURE MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION FORMING A 